JP2007282239A - International call, and data routing - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method of supplying telecommunication service to a user, particularly a solution in international roaming for mediating between cellular telephone services inside and outside the country of a subscriber. <P>SOLUTION: A method of supplying telecommunication service to a user comprises the steps of: maintaining user information for a first identity of the user in a first telecommunication network; maintaining an active existence for a mobile device of the user by means of a second identity in a second telecommunication network; and emulating the existence of the user in the first telecommunication network, by using a gateway system which combines the first telecommunication network with the second telecommunication network. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

(background)
This description relates to international calls and data routing.

  The international roaming capability allows cellular subscribers to roam outside their home country and outside the network and to place and receive calls as if they were almost in their home country. Subscriber domestic and foreign cellular telephone operators charge international long distance and roaming charges for this service.

  Some of this charge can be avoided by borrowing (at the destination) a local GSM SIM card to be inserted into the local cellular phone or the subscriber's domestic GSM phone.

  To receive an incoming call while traveling abroad, the subscriber leaves a message in his voicemail asking the caller to dial his overseas cellular number, which results in a long distance to the caller. A fee may be charged or the subscriber may initiate a call transfer to a cellular phone in his country of residence and automatically redirect the call to his local cellular phone. Subscribers must remember to manually activate and deactivate call forwarding before and after traveling abroad.

(Overview)
In general, in one aspect, telecommunications services are provided to users. User information for the first identity of the user in the first telecommunication network is maintained. An active presence for the mobile device for the user is maintained by a second identity in the second telecommunication network. The presence of a user in the first network is emulated using a gateway system that couples the first telecommunications network to the second telecommunications network.

  Implementations can include one or more of the following features. The relationship between the first identity and the second identity is maintained. The first and second telecommunication networks are cellular networks. The gateway system couples the first telecommunications network to the second telecommunications network via the Internet. Call traffic destined for the first identity is forwarded to the second telecommunication network. The call traffic is sound data. The call traffic is text data. The call traffic is image data.

  Implementation benefits may include one or more of the following. Subscribers can use their domestic cellular telephone services (including regular voice services and general cellular telephone services such as voicemail, SMS and MMS) without paying roaming charges while traveling abroad. I can receive it. When a subscriber roams outside his / her domestic network, he / she continues to receive incoming calls to his / her domestic mobile phone number without the need for manual steps to activate and cancel call forwarding. Subscribers can use standard rental mobile phones while abroad, or subscribers can insert foreign SIM cards into their GSM phones, so no special handset is required Not. No changes are required for current GSM handset designs or for current GSM or SIP protocols. The subscriber's domestic and foreign cellular telephone services need not operate on a compatible network, for example, the subscriber's domestic cellular telephone service may be CDMA, the overseas cellular telephone may be GSM, and The reverse is also possible.

  Other features and advantages will be apparent from the description and the claims.

The present invention further provides the following means.
(Item 1)
A method for providing a telecommunication service to a user, comprising:
Maintaining user information for a user's first identity in a first telecommunication network;
Maintaining an active presence for a mobile device for the user by a second identity in a second telecommunication network;
Emulating the presence of the user in the first network using a gateway system that couples the first telecommunications network to the second telecommunications network.
(Item 2)
The method of item 1, further comprising maintaining a relationship between the first identity and the second identity.
(Item 3)
Item 2. The method of item 1, wherein the first and second telecommunication networks are cellular networks.
(Item 4)
The method of item 1, wherein the gateway system couples the first telecommunications network to the second telecommunications network via the Internet.
(Item 5)
The method of item 1, further comprising forwarding call traffic destined for the first identity to the second telecommunications network.
(Item 6)
Item 6. The method according to Item 5, wherein the call traffic is voice data.
(Item 7)
Item 6. The method according to Item 5, wherein the call traffic is text data.
(Item 8)
Item 6. The method according to Item 5, wherein the call traffic is image data.

(Summary)
A telecommunication service is provided to the user. User information for the first identity of the user in the first telecommunication network is maintained. An active presence for the mobile device for the user is maintained by a second identity in the second telecommunication network. The presence of a user in the first network is emulated using a gateway system that couples the first telecommunications network to the second telecommunications network.

(Detailed explanation)
The inventors describe an international roaming solution that bridges subscribers' domestic and foreign cellular telephone services. Subscribers can use their overseas (or local) cellular telephones while traveling beyond their cellular telephone service area to use their domestic cellular telephone services (regular voice services, as well as voice mail, SMS and This can avoid or reduce roaming charges because it can receive common cellular telephone services such as MMS). The following terms:
BSC base station controller,
BTS base transceiver station,
CDMA code division multiple access,
G-MSC Gateway Mobile Exchange Center,
Global system for GSM mobile communications,
GW media gateway,
HLR home location register,
MAP mobile application parts,
MDN moving directory number,
MSC Mobile Service Exchange Center,
NCG network convergence gateway,
S-MSC serving mobile switching center,
SIM subscriber identification module,
SMS short message service,
SMSC short message service center,
A VM voice mailbox is used in this description.

  Certain implementations described by the inventors herein are described in the category of GSM cellular networks, but are also valid in the category of CDMA cellular networks and other mobile telephone and data standards.

  Referring to FIG. 1, a network convergence gateway (NCG) 100 uses a high level network architecture to provide international roaming features to the network. In some examples, in an actual service deployment, NCG 100 may comprise several physical network elements that are strategically located to plan an optimal network. For example, referring also to FIG. 2, the NCG 100 includes a domestic NCG 100A physically located in the domestic network 102A and a global NCG 100B located in another location, for example, the overseas network 102B. The NCG 100 functions as a single logical element regardless of where it is located and whether or not it has a plurality of network elements.

  In some examples, the NCG 100 cooperates with media gateways (MGWs) 104A and 104 in the networks 102A and 102B to facilitate calls and data exchange over the Internet 103. NCG 100 also includes other standard network elements in networks 102A and 102B (eg, mobile service switching centers (MSC) 108A and 108B, home location registers (HLR) 110A and 110B, base station controllers (BSC) 112A and 112B, Base transceiver stations (BTS) 117A and 117B, short message service centers (SMSC) 114A and 114B, and voice mailboxes (VM) 116A and 116B) may also work together.

  In some examples, the subscriber 115 uses one cellular phone 105A in the domestic network 102A and another cellular phone 105B in the foreign network 102B. In some examples, the subscriber 115 uses a single GSM cellular phone 105, but the domestic GSM SIM card 106A in his GSM cellular phone 105 is used as an overseas SIM card for use in the overseas network 102B. Replace with 106B.

  In some examples, while the subscriber 115 is active in the overseas network 102B, in the domestic network 102A, the NCG 100 functions as a serving mobile switching center (S-MSC) for the subscriber 115 in the domestic network 102A. The NCG 100 executes location registration in the domestic network 102A using the domestic HLR 110A. When the subscriber 115 is in the overseas network 102B, the domestic network routes the incoming call to the subscriber's domestic cellular phone 105A as the serving MSC of the domestic network 102A to the NCG 100 using standard mobile network protocols. The NCG 100 causes the domestic network 102A to guide a call to the domestic GW 104A to be transferred as a SIP message to the overseas GW 104B of the overseas network 102B.

  In some examples, in the overseas cellular network 102B, the NCG 100 functions as a gateway mobile switching center (G-MSC), routes incoming calls from the domestic network 102A for the subscriber 115 to the overseas network 102B, and uses the standard MAP protocol. Is used to guide the overseas GW 104B to make a call to the cellular telephone 105B via the MSC 108B. In some examples, the NCG 100 accesses a database 111B that includes an identifier for the subscriber's domestic cellular phone 105A and a corresponding identifier for the foreign cellular phone 105B to determine how to route the incoming call.

  The call leg 118A between the domestic network 102A and the domestic GW 104A and the call leg 118B between the foreign network 102B and the foreign GW 104B are local calls, so the subscriber 115 can Can be avoided or reduced.

  In some examples, the subscriber 115 calls a number in his domestic network 102A on his local SIM 106B while in the foreign network 102B. To avoid two-stage dialing, a roamed-in carrier (or local carrier) may establish a feature code (FC) as a dialing area number for calls that can be routed through the domestic GW 104A and the local GW 104B. The FC is typically used by the MSC data translation table 501 (see FIG. 5) to route calls to special services such as weather reports, traffic, or radio stations, for example. The FC instructs the MSC to route the call to a specific trunk group. Similar to dialing “9” on the PBX to connect to the outside line, the subscriber using the foreign SIM makes a call via the international roaming service using the FC.

  Referring to FIG. 2, by way of example, a Singapore subscriber 115 travels to Korea. When the subscriber 115 arrives in Korea, the subscriber 115 inserts the Korean SIM 106B into his / her GSM cellular phone 105.

  In some examples, the identification number range of an overseas SIM card (here, Korean SIM 106B) is related to the subscriber's MDN in Singapore, in the Korean HRL 110B, and in the database 111B for the World NCG 100B. Pre-programmed to form. Several mechanisms are possible to program this relationship. In some examples, the subscriber 115 logs into the self-help website 113 and assigns an identifier for his domestic SIM card 106A to one or more foreign SIM cards 106B (perhaps each country where the subscriber frequently travels). With an identifier for 1). In another example, subscriber 115 calls a free customer service phone number to obtain his foreign SIM / MDN 106B via an operator. This relationship can also arise by urging subscriber 115 to send an SMS to notify her national SIM / MDN 106A world NCG 100B.

  Referring to FIG. 3, in some examples, the world NCG 100B asks the local HLR 110B to notify the world NCG 100B when the local SIM 106B becomes active in the network (step 300). The world NCG 100B substantially functions in this case as an SMSC, and using a general MAP method, the SMS message informs the local HLR 110B that it is waiting for the subscriber 115 (step 300A). The local HLR 110B issues an approval when it receives the SMS (step 300B). When the local SIM 106B becomes active, normal registration with the local HLR 110B occurs (step 302). In some examples, the SIM 106B registers with the local MSC 108B (step 302A), the local MSC updates the location of the SIM 106B with the local HLR 110B (step 302B), and the local HLR 110B sends a profile message back to the local MSC 108B. The world NCG 100B establishes serving as an MSC for the local SIM 106 (step 302C), and the local MSC returns an acknowledgment to the local SIM 106B (step 302D). The local HLR 110B then notifies the world NCG 100B that the SIM 106B is active using a service center alert that includes the local SIM 106B's MDN (moving directory number) and the ID of its serving MSC (step 304).

  The world NCG 100B sends an SMS to the subscriber 115 and asks the subscriber 115 for his domestic MDN (step 306). This domestic MDN is delivered to the SIM 106A by the local SMSC 114B using standard methods (step 308). Subscriber 115 responds to the local SMSC 114B with text containing its own domestic MDN (step 310). The domestic MDN is a domestic telephone number that the subscriber wants to associate with his / her overseas telephone number. The local SMSC returns an SMS response to the world NCG 100B (step 312).

  The world NCG 100B maps the domestic MDN to the matching domestic NCG 100A. Next, the world NCG 100B transmits a registration message including the domestic MDN received from the subscriber 115 via SMS to the domestic NCG 100A (step 314).

  The domestic NCG 100A then updates the location of the domestic MDN using the domestic HLR 110A and establishes that the domestic NCG 100A serves as the MSC in the domestic network 102A for that number (step 316). The domestic HLR 110A returns the profile for the subscriber's domestic MDN to the domestic NCG 100A (step 318).

  Referring to FIG. 4, in some examples, caller 401 attempts to call subscriber 115 by dialing the subscriber's domestic MDN. However, the subscriber 115 is in the overseas network 102B. In this case, normal call setup occurs within the domestic domain (step 400). The call enters the domestic MSC 108A (step 400A), and the domestic MSC 108A transmits routing information to the domestic HLR 110A (step 400B). The domestic HLR 110A looks up the subscriber's domestic MDN and notices that the domestic NCG 100A is acting as the serving MSC for that number. The domestic HLR 110A provides roaming information for the call to the domestic NCG 100A (step 400C). The domestic NCG 100A informs the domestic HLR 110A that the call should be routed via the domestic GW 104A (step 400D). The domestic HLR 110A returns this information to the domestic MSC 108A (step 400E), and the domestic MSC 108A then routes the call to the domestic GW 104A (step 400F).

  The domestic GW 104A delivers an Invite to the domestic NCG 100A and requests information on where the domestic GW 104A should route the call in SIP format (step 402). The national NCG 100A passes the invite to the world NCG 100B, which looks up the domestic MDN in the database 111B and determines that the local SIM 106B is associated with the domestic MDN (step 404).

  The World NCG now functions as a local G-MSC for the local SIM 106B and sends a standard “incoming call” MAP message to the local HLR 110B using the local MDN routing information for the corresponding local SIM 106B (step 406). The local HLR 110B provides roaming information to the local MSC 108B (step 408), and the local MSC 108B responds with a message confirming that the local SIM 106B is within its service area (step 410). The local HLR 110B returns an SRI response to the world NCG 100B, indicating that a proper local MSC 108B is located with respect to the local 106B (step 412). The world NCG 100B returns an OK message to the domestic NCG 100A along with the identity of the local GW 104B to which the domestic GW 104A should route the call (step 414). The domestic NCG 100A transfers the OK message onto the domestic GW 104A (step 416).

  The domestic GW 104A then delivers the call to the correct local GW 104B in the RTP session (step 418). When local GW 104B receives the call, it queries world NCG 100B to determine where to route the call. The world NCG 100B responds with the appropriate local MSC 108B serving the local SIM 106B. The local GW 104B routes the call to the local MSC 108B (step 424), and the local MSC 108B sends an alert to the local SIM 106B (step 426). The subscriber's overseas phone 106B therefore rings in response to a call to his local MDN.

  If the subscriber 115 does not respond or is busy, the world NCG 100B may redirect the callback to the national NCG 100A that continues to operate as the servicing MSC using a SIP message (redirect 302, see FIG. 3). . The domestic NCG 100A may interact with the domestic HLR 110A for routing information based on the reason for failure. In some examples, when the subscriber does not answer the call, the caller may be routed to the voice mailbox 116A of the subscriber's national network 100A (see FIG. 1). Using standard methods, the domestic NCG 100A instructs the domestic GW 104A to forward the call via the domestic MSC 108A to the domestic voice mail box 116B where the caller 401 can leave a message. The message “Waiting for voice mail message” arrives at the domestic NCG 100A as an SMS message. The national NCG 100A may pass the message on to the world NCG 100B. The world NCG 100B then forwards the SMS to the local SIM 106B as described below. In some examples, the subscriber 115 calls the domestic voice mailbox 116A from his local SIM 106B in the overseas network 102B to check this message. In some examples, the subscriber 115 calls his domestic voice mailbox 116 from his domestic SIM 106A when he returns to his country of residence.

  Referring to FIG. 5, in some examples, at his local SIM 106B, the subscriber 115 places an outgoing call to an entity within the national network 102A. The subscriber 115 dials the FC, and subsequently dials the country code and the desired DN of the domestic network 102A (step 500). The foreign MSC 108B recognizes that the subscriber 115 inputs the FC and routes the call to the foreign GW 104B (step 502). The local GW 104B sends an invite to the world NCG 100B as its serving MSC and determines where to route the call (step 504). World NCG 100B performs a numeric analysis and determines that the call should be delivered to national NCG 100A (step 506). In some examples, the national NCG 100A performs steps similar to steps 406-412 to determine where to route the call, as described above. The domestic NCG 100A forwards the OK message back to the world NCG 100B along with the appropriate national GW 104A identity (step 508). The world NCG 100B transfers the message back to the overseas GW 104B (step 510).

  The NCG 100A sets up a call between the overseas GW 104B and the domestic GW 104A (step 512). The national GW 104A then follows standard outgoing routing procedures to the appropriate national serving MSC 108A (step 514). In some instances where the DN is not a cellular number, the national media gateway routes the call to the national PSTN using standard methods.

  A subscriber 115 in the foreign network 102B may also receive SMS messages on his local SIM 106B that are destined for his domestic SIM 106A. Referring to FIG. 6, in some examples, another user or device such as computer program 601 sends an SMS containing voice or image data to the subscriber's national MDN. In some examples, the domestic MSC 108A sends a notification 603 “Waiting for voice mail message” to the subscriber 115 using SMS. In another example, there is a similar data flow for MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service). This is because the MMS notification is performed via SMS.

  Using the normal MAP method, the domestic SMSC 114A receives the SMS message (step 600) and queries the domestic HLR 110A for appropriate routing information (step 602). The domestic HLR 110A informs the domestic SMSC 114A that the domestic NCG 100A is functioning as a service MSC of the subscriber's domestic MDN (step 604). The domestic SMSC 114A delivers the message to the domestic NCG 100A (step 606). The domestic NCG 100A converts the SMS message into the SIP format and delivers the message to the world NCG 100B (step 608). World NCG 100B looks up the local MDN in its translation table, maps the number to the subscriber's local MDN, converts the SIP message back to P2P format, and forwards the message to the appropriate local SMSC 114B (steps). 610).

  The local SMSC 114B delivers the message to the subscriber 115 in its local SIM 106B using the normal MAP method. The local SMSC 114B queries the local HLR 110B for appropriate routing information (step 612). The local HLR 110B responds with the identity of the local MSC serving the subscriber's local MDN (step 614). In response, the local SMSC 114B forwards the message to the local MSC 108B (step 616), and the local MSC 108B delivers the message to the local SIM 106B using standard methods (step 618). The local SIM 106B acknowledges receipt of the message to the local MSC 108B (step 620), and the local MSC 108B forwards this acknowledgment to the local SMSC (step 622). In some examples, the subscriber response 624 to the SMS follows a similar path in the opposite direction.

  Other embodiments are within the scope of the appended claims.

  As mentioned above, although this invention has been illustrated using preferable embodiment of this invention, this invention should not be limited and limited to this embodiment. It is understood that the scope of the present invention should be construed only by the claims. It is understood that those skilled in the art can implement an equivalent range based on the description of the present invention and the common general technical knowledge from the description of specific preferred embodiments of the present invention.

Indicates network. Indicates network. A flow chart is shown. A flow chart is shown. A flow chart is shown. A flow chart is shown.

Explanation of symbols

100 Network Convergence Gateway (NCG)
102A, 102B Network 103 Internet 104A, 104B Media Gateway (MGW)
105A, 105B Cellular phone 106A, 106B SIM card 106
108A, 108B Mobile Service Exchange Center (MSC)
110A, 110B Home location register (HLR)
111B Database 112A, 112B Base Station Controller (BSC)
114A, 114B Short Message Service Center (SMSC)
115 Subscriber 116A, 116B Voice Mail Box (VM)
117A, 117B Base transceiver station (BTS)

Claims (8)

A method for providing a telecommunication service to a user, comprising:
Maintaining user information for a user's first identity in a first telecommunication network;
Maintaining an active presence for a mobile device for the user by a second identity in a second telecommunication network;
Emulating the presence of the user in the first network using a gateway system that couples the first telecommunications network to the second telecommunications network.   The method of claim 1, further comprising maintaining a relationship between the first identity and the second identity.   The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second telecommunications networks are cellular networks.   The method of claim 1, wherein the gateway system couples the first telecommunications network to the second telecommunications network via the Internet.   The method of claim 1, further comprising forwarding call traffic directed to the first identity to the second telecommunications network.   The method of claim 5, wherein the call traffic is voice data.   The method of claim 5, wherein the call traffic is text data.   The method of claim 5, wherein the call traffic is image data.